If he had tried this solution a year ago, Andrew Copp thought he would have ended up in the infirmary.
Now in his second season with the Detroit Red Wings, Copp is one of the contributors who helped lead the Wings to a three-game winning streak. He scored twice in Wednesday’s 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, and was denied on a penalty shot awarded when he was pushed away by Kris Letang on a breakaway.
Copp’s empty-net goal at Little Caesars Arena gave him three this season. It’s a satisfying start for a player who started last season still recovering from surgery.
COMFORT ZONE:Why the Red Wings are ‘gravitating towards’ newcomer JT Compher
“I think even on the play leading up to the penalty shot, you saw some explosion and some speed,” Copp said. “I think if I had tried to do that last year, I would have been out six to eight weeks.”
Copp struggled to be in the lineup on opening night 2022, but he clearly wasn’t fully effective until the second half of the season. It made a huge difference to be able to train this summer.
“You just get confidence through training,” Copp said. “I feel like I’m doing a lot this summer and gaining confidence from it. It completely changes your mindset when you’re able to push and push instead of playing to survive.”
Coach Derek Lalonde said Copp had “more pop to him. Those basic surgeries, it’s just tough to come back.”
Copp starting the season fully healthy is part of the Wings’ improved depth. He started the season centering a line between Michael Rasmussen and Daniel Sprong, but with Robby Fabbri since sidelined due to an undisclosed injury, Copp has played the last two games on a line with JT Compher and Michael Rasmussen; all three are 200-foot players who can play wing or center.
“Traditionally throughout his career, (Copp) has thrived on the wing,” Lalonde said. “So he’ll still play a lot of center for us – we like his versatility. But we’ve been able to see him on the wing, and it’s worked out pretty well.”
Contact Hélène St. James at[email protected]. Am here@helenestjames.
Learn more about theDetroit Red Wings and sign up for ourRed Wings Newsletter. His latest book, “On the Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL Draft,” is available from Amazon,Barnes & Nobles and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via email.